Higher Education in UAE
Prof. Kamal Puri
Chairman at Skyline International Group Limited
Revolutionizing Higher Education: A Visionary Conversation with Kamal Puri
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the inaugural World Higher Education Ranking Summit. Today, we have the privilege of hosting a true visionary, educator, and entrepreneur, Mr. Kamal Puri, Chairman of the Skyline International Group. Established in 1990 in Sharjah, the Skyline International Group originally focused on education, but over the years, it has diversified its portfolio to include healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and agriculture, with a dedicated team of more than 1400 individuals. Mr. Puri has successfully overseen the group's operations in the UAE, Canada, the US, India, and Nigeria.
Skyline University College, a part of the Skyline International Group, achieved international accreditation in 2020 and is now recognized as one of the leading institutions for innovation and education. Skyline University has become a hub for exceptionally talented individuals, and today, we are honored and excited to have Mr. Puri with us for this interview. Thank you so much for joining us today.
Challenges in UAE Higher Education and How to Address Them
Mr. Puri begins by addressing the challenges in UAE higher education. He emphasizes that the UAE has set a strategic plan, known as Code P-30, with the goal of fostering entrepreneurship and enhancing education attainment. The UAE aims to transition into a knowledge-based economy, prioritizing innovation, research, science, and technology. The Ministry of Education has amended its standards, aiming for the highest international benchmarks, ensuring that even undergraduate students are taught by terminal degree holders.
The Role of UAE in Attracting International Students
Our host, Angelika, praises the UAE as one of the top destinations for international students, in line with Mr. Puri's vision. The UAE's diverse population of 10.5 million, featuring over 200 nationalities, creates an enriching environment for students. Additionally, the growing economy facilitates employment opportunities. Angelika notes that the UAE's emphasis on education has led to the issuance of long-term visas for innovative and creative students, further attracting global talent. Mr. Puri explains that Skyline University's emphasis is on providing global education, with a focus on technology.
Key Performance Indicators for Successful Higher Education
The conversation shifts to key performance indicators (KPIs) for successful higher education. Mr. Puri discusses the various standards established by the UAE's Ministry of Education for governance, curriculum, learning support resources, finance, research, and technology integration. He highlights the importance of risk management and emphasizes the need to focus on research, teaching methodologies, and IT to meet the highest standards.
Bridging the Gap Between Industry and Academia
Angelika raises the issue of the gap between industry and academia, a common challenge worldwide. Mr. Puri shares his advice for universities globally, emphasizing the need to integrate vocational and professional education into academic programs. Skyline University's approach combines academic faculty, working managers, and renowned experts in the classroom to provide students with practical insights and relevant skills. The curriculum is designed through collaboration with industry and students' input, ensuring alignment with industry needs.
Supporting Students' Well-Being and Mental Health
The interview delves into supporting students' well-being and mental health, an area where many universities struggle. Mr. Puri discusses Skyline University's efforts, such as providing extensive sports facilities, gyms, yoga classes, and online wellness resources. The campus's 40-acre space fosters both physical and mental well-being. Additionally, students are actively involved in running certain functions of the institution.
Preparing Students for Success After Graduation
Angelika emphasizes the importance of preparing students for success after graduation. Mr. Puri outlines the essential success skills, including agility, collaboration, and technological proficiency. He highlights the changing nature of education, where students will return for lifelong learning and customize their educational paths. He also notes the rising trend of entrepreneurship among graduates and discusses how Skyline University supports students in developing entrepreneurial skills.
The Future of Education and Technology Integration
The interview explores the future of education, with a focus on technology. Mr. Puri predicts that universities will bring faculty into students' homes, leveraging digital platforms for education. He believes that the future of education lies in the Metaverse, with virtual reality, augmented reality, and immersive technologies enhancing learning experiences. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to emerging technologies and ensuring that education remains relevant in a rapidly evolving world.
Digitization and the Transformation of Universities
The conversation touches upon the digital transformation of universities. Mr. Puri underscores the need for universities to digitalize internal systems for efficiency and speed. He mentions the adoption of digital tools and resources, such as e-libraries and talking books, to enhance the learning experience. The interview emphasizes that universities must embrace technology to stay competitive.
The Importance of Transparency and Open Rankings
The interview concludes with a discussion of the open rank concept and ranking committees. Mr. Puri expresses his support for transparency in education and the need for a unified ranking platform that includes local, regional, and national accreditation agencies. He believes that such a platform will benefit students by providing clear and standardized information about educational institutions.
In summary, this interview with Mr. Kamal Puri provides valuable insights into the challenges and innovations in higher education, particularly in the UAE. It highlights the importance of adapting to technological advancements, fostering well-being among students, and bridging the gap between academia and industry. Mr. Puri's vision for the future of education and his commitment to transparency in rankings contribute to the ongoing transformation of higher education worldwide.
Speakers Info
Prof. Kamal Puri Founder of Skyline University College
Dr. Kamal Puri, an educationist, visionary, and accomplished entrepreneur, serves as the Chairman of Skyline International Group Limited. His illustrious journey began with a post-graduate degree in Travel, Tourism, Marketing, and Management from the prestigious Delhi University, providing the bedrock for his diverse professional and personal achievements. Remarkably, Dr. Puri continued his pursuit of knowledge well into his forties, displaying an unquenchable thirst for learning, especially in the ever-evolving realm of global digital transformation.
Session Script: The higher education in UAE
Introduction
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm very excited to welcome you to the very first world higher education ranking Summit and today, we're joined by real visionary, educationalist, entrepreneur, Kamal Puri who is the chairman of Skyline international group. Kamal Puri established the Skyline International Group in 1990 in Sharjah, with a focus of education. Since then, he has expanded the portfolio into healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and agriculture, with a team of more than 1400 people. Mr. Puri oversees the group's operations in the UAE, Canada, US, India, and Nigeria, Skyline University College secured international accreditation in 2020 is one of the leading institutions for innovation. Skyline University is an extraordinary hub for really talented people, and I am really honored and excited to interview today. Mr. Puri, thank you so much for joining us today.
Mr. Puri
Thank you, Angelika, and thanks for giving me an opportunity. I can speak my mind to your audience, and I hope I will contribute something.
Angelika
Well, absolutely sure that you will contribute a lot and we're really grateful for your time. We know how busy you're. Mr. Kamal so, one of my questions would be more about the UAE education the first question to start to open the chapter. What do you think is the biggest challenge in higher education in the UAE and what kind of changes need to be implemented to make this education system better for students across the world?
Challenges in UAE higher education and how to face them
As far as UAE is concerned, UAE is very clear they have a strategic plan of code P-30, in that they have very well specified that they want their citizens to be entrepreneur and enhance education attainment on this economy of UAE is going to be a knowledge-based economy where innovation, research, science and technology will take the front seat recently, the Ministry of Education has amended their standards, their benchmark from 2019 onwards and same like UAE is having the tallest building, biggest mall, they are upgrading the education to the maximum because they understand. Nowadays, knowledge is an equity and there is an old economy, and a new economy, and new economy is having a lot of emphasis on virtual world rather than physical world. So, UAE is not going to be a country of trading hub or counting on oil. Now, they are counting to produce out of three money man machine, their emphasis is on men. So, the standards of accredited institution from the federal government through CAA are having the tallest standard, I would put it in the world. When I say a tallest standard even undergraduates are taught by a terminal degree holder.
Angelika
This is absolutely brilliant because as we see today, UAE is one of the top destinations for international students. This proves your point and that makes UAE a new hub for innovators and for creative minds. This is just brilliant and tell me a little bit more about how you encourage this in Skyline University.
The education system in SUC
See, what is happening, first thing is you a population has grown in leaps and bounds we have already reached to 10 point 5 million people, have 200 nationalities all around the world, many international students want to come to this part of the world because the advantages are;
- You are interacting with a different nationality, which is very, very important.
- To getting an employment here become easy because the expansion of the economy.
- 30% of the population today are Indians, and all international institutions are in free zones, but the captured institution by the federal government have a limited list of fully accredited institutions. So, what is happening, they also started those who are creative and innovative student giving them a golden visa, giving them a long-term visa, so they see a stability etc. The similar program, if you do it here, or you do it in USA, or you do it in UK, the cost is less. So, the students get attracted. As far as skyline is concerned, we have a number of nationalities in our campus and our emphasis is basically to provide global education and maximum emphasis is on technology
This is extraordinary because you empower those innovators creative minds, and attract all the best talent around the world and my next question would be regarding performance or how do you measure the strategy, the key performance indicators for the strategy of higher education, so that is successful, so that it meets all the goals of all the stakeholders?
Key indicators for a successful higher education
See, UAE basically was running three kinds of standards.
First standard was by the Ministry of Education, which is a very, very high standard fully accredited, you take their degree, once it is stamped by the Ministry, all institutions will accept in the world, because it is one reciprocal basis, government to the government agreement.
Second education system is in free zones, where the foreign institutions comes and set up their campuses and then the standards which are observed are monitored by an agency called KHDA, they check the standards.
Third, those who are diplomas, they are nowhere but they still operate, government is trying to put down to raise the bar and to make it sure that these standards are being upgraded.
Now, what they have done, the ministry of education, they have made complete standard for governance, for example, your vision, mission, purpose, goal, objectives, for curriculum. The curriculum will be designed, how the things are to be carried, then they have put learning support resources, these are minimum learning support resources required, then they have the finance, what are the backups or finances required, etc. Then research, how the research will work, technology integration into education, all these standards have been fixed. Second agency, whose job is to check the risk management of the educational establishment. What are the risk, for example, infrastructure is being checked. Like type of student is being checked, the restaurants or cafeteria which you run type of food has been checked. So, many things are being taken care of that the maximum emphasis is on research and teaching methodology and IT.
Angelika
We see that Skyline University is at the forefront of research, and IT and this is really a well-known fact. So, my next question is actually on your suggestion, because not only in the UAE, across the globe, in most countries, there is the gap between industry and academia and this gap has been there for a very long time and I know that UAE has done a lot to actually bridge that gap. But what will be your advice to all universities across the world because we have here watching us lots of academics from the US from Canada from the UK, what will be your advice to them to actually help bridge that gap and we also have corporate leaders and you as a person that is an extraordinary leader both in education and in business world, you can help us find out the solution here?
Mr. Puris’ advice to help bridge the gap between industry and academia
See in 1990 when we designed the program specially in travel and tourism, we are the leaders as far as travel and tourism and IT is concerned in Middle East, 20% of the curriculum was on professional vocational in nature, like in UK either on that time in 90s, I'm talking about, we used to have Polytechnic or University then Polytechnic change into University similar way in US, Community colleges and Universities. Now, what we did, we took 20%-person curriculum on the basis of vocational and professional, 80% on academics. We have given 650 students to Emirates, all tourism spots, I gave a national girl in Dubai Intercontinental in 1993. Now, since CA was formed in 2000, they amended in all this. Now, how do you make industry to come close to the institution who designed our curriculum? Our curriculum is designed by academics, industry and potential students or existing students. We amended according to that, we conduct a survey and then we see what are the needs, etc. Second, who comes to the classroom, one academic faculty holding terminal degree, second working managers who will say keep the books on the side, keeps everything on the side, let me tell you what happens practically in the industry, second is this. Third renowned expert who has spent his whole life while doing the research on that particular subject. So, when you bring all the three together in classroom, you are coming close to that. We have a 96% deployment rate from the last 32 years, reason? Because we know what industry wants. If you see Skyline qualification, is those which are required in UAE education system, which is required by corporates and that is what we do.
Angelika
This is fascinating. I believe that every institution that is watching us right now, would be extremely amazed by this number 96% employability? I believe that employability should be one of the top criteria’s for ranking University and unfortunately, we do not have this in current ranking systems. But my next question would be about facilities, knowing your expertise in helping students actually remain healthy attitude not only in during their studies, but also outside on campus, what is the use of facilities and what is role in helping students be more satisfied with the quality of education?
How students can be more satisfied with the quality of education
See, in education, what we do? We do two broad functions, one, intellect, second value-based education. Because if you see the way the amount of time which students spend on technology is very, very high. What about values, wellness, etc. The campus is a 40-acre campus, we have developed the full playing ground of cricket, soccer, basketball, all other games, etc. This is as far as sports is concerned. Now, other aspect, we have a gym, we also organize yoga classes. We also have online facility for wellness, right how to be a strong mind especially in COVID? It was very, very important to make sure all students are stable, they are collaborative and all these facilities to give it to them and to make sure the certain percentage of function of skyline is run by the students rather than the employees of staff members of skyline.
Angelika
This is actually exactly the next question that I was about to ask you because so many universities across the globe, they have actually failed in providing the facilities for students to help them overcome mental issues, especially since up and down and the fact that you have even yoga classes and mental support groups to Skyline University is really an example for the whole world. Could you please tell me a little bit more? What do you think should be done by universities across the globe to help counter mental health issues and the pressure that students face?
Assisting students to cope with mental health issues
It is very important like we invite various speakers those who are dealing in these topics like, how to make mind strong for example, brain mapping, and a lot of exercises and as I mentioned to you yoga classes, then we have a full-fledged gym in our campus where students when they have a free time they go to the gym and spend some time and making their body strong on that and then question comes apart from this in wellness, for example, meditation to be concentrated says technology makes you to be diverted from one point to another point run from here to there, but are you living in a past or are you living in a future if you see most of the people either they live in the past or they live in a future that is why small kid of age of two, three does not get tired, because he is living in the present, how to be in a present and concentrate on uncertainty? Meditation helps them to do that. So, various techniques are used team building, speaker to be invited, make sure resources are available, and gamification of education because once you convert education into games, like building up a team, we can do it in a sports stadium, right? So, all these things to make a brain more strong, because I personally feel your whole world is within you, it is not outside and many institutions have done brain mapping along with a visualization and the results were the same. So, it is very important to make your brain to be very strong and it should not be only intellect it should be a complete personality development.
Angelika
I love this because it gives an overall picture here that universities should provide this essential preparation for students and this is a one of the very important topics that we've been discussing at WHERS, that universities have to also work on preparing students for real world with equipping them with a strong skills and it's so called soft skills, but it's not so soft and I believe that Skyline University have actually mastered that and help students equip those skills. My next question would be about those skills. What do you think are the success skills for students to become successful at after graduation?
The skills students need to become successful after graduation
Angelika, let me explain now, time is coming in the next five years, we will be enrolling students for lifetime. Why? Student will come study, work and then he will come back and say sir, world has changed. Agility is the most important thing, which every student every human being has to understand.
One size will not fit to all like for example, you go to Subway, when you take your sandwich, what do you say, put this, I want healthy, I don't want this mayonnaise, I don't want this, similar way, University will be providing you the menu of courses you will select, I want to have a chemistry and I also want to have a business education, I want to do finance. So, the one size will not fit.
Collaboration is the most important because we will have competition not with the human beings, we are going to have competition with the machines and machine IT is already there. Artificial Intelligence is already there, AR is already there, deep learning is already there, and quantum computing is coming, robotics is there. So, we have to compete with them. So, it is very important technology.
Then, nowadays student come out from the top institution. He says I don't want to work for anybody. I want to do entrepreneurship. So, what system they launch? Our faculty does the research student are taught through the assignment and research wherever there is a good idea how to implement this idea through the venture capitalist and to make it commercially viable, where everybody gains on that? That is to make a triangle on this problem solving. You take the problem, every problem has different steps. We'll teach them all the steps how to solve each problem and the most important thing in education is education should be based on thinking, not on the base of what are you as a faculty delivered to you, no, that is why each topic you release one week prior tell them to discuss, come to podium and talk because information is given by Google and YouTube, which information is to be converted into knowledge and which knowledge is to be applied? What do you have to do? Classroom, corporates, internship all together.
Angelika
It is a very holistic approach, comprehensive approach and I believe this is the exactly the reason why Skyline University has evolved in the rankings for the past decades and has shown as an example for the whole educational system in the Middle East, how it should be done. My next question is on technology. Just as you mentioned, we live in a very fast paced world where technology is everything. However, what is your vision on the future of education, let's say in 20 years, do you believe that we will be in a Metaverse? Do you believe that universities should be there? Or what is your opinion about the future?
Opinions about how education will use technology in the future
Future is that we will be bringing faculty into your drawing room, this is the future. We launched in 1999, the Online Education best of both the world one faculty in USA one faculty in UAE. But the credit agencies raise an objection on that time on online, but COVID has taught a lesson to all the credit agency that online education is also good. Now when we are talking about VR, AR metaverse, the future of education is through metaverse. Why? If you see gen-Z generation and alpha generation, how much time do they spend on technology? Wait and watch. So, when you look to Metaverse today. Let's take I'm teaching engineering or I'm teaching medical, I can open up the whole body, I can show everything engineering, I can open up whole machine, and show you each and every part of it. Today, take an example Cleveland Clinic has done more than 1000 bypass through robot. So, even medical is changing all industries are changing. So, yes, the role of all universities will also be supported by Metaverse by AR, but we have a competition coming out of whom? Coming out of Microsoft, IBM, Google or all these companies. So, what happens when students enroll for any degree to us, he is doing 10 more certificates along with his bachelor's degree because skills are becoming more important.
Now, previously skills ratio used to be 30/70. Now it is 50/50. Technology see, in older days, if I write one book that is lying in laboratory, today, I write a book it goes all around the world. One step further 2030, 50% would be a talking books. So, what we have to look, many people will not know how to type even if I'm talking today, this will not. I see 20% of the University will get impacted and closed down because of Metaverse, but Metaverse has another disadvantage also so far, we are doing with the glasses and all but the technology. Things will change and things will happen. I'm very optimistic that today you buy things on Amazon time is not far you will by buying all skill courses on Amazon itself, similar platform, like you people have developed the platform for the world. Education will spread into the same way.
Angelika
That is absolutely essential for everyone to hear and because we cannot underestimate the impact of technologies, and there are far ahead of us. However, my next question would be on digital transformation for universities. As you've just mentioned, in 1999, you had an online course where it was under criticism where people didn't understand that because you were thinking ahead of your time, right now. What do you think needs to be done for university is across the globe to keep up with digital transformation to digitize learning resources and if they haven't done that, what will happen to them in the future?
How universities can keep up with digitalization
First thing what we did in our organization, digitalization of total internal systems, this is the first thing we do. Then what we do, students on a different, different education are given iPads many years back, we have an innovation lab which was made six and a half years back. Now, we have a future digital Academy. Now, when we are talking about digitization, efficiency is the most important part, speed and efficiency. Today, you cannot delay anything if you will not do it, somebody else will do it. So, digitalization, let's take the example of learning support resources, You subscribe to one particular, E-Library you get an enormous journals or research reports or books, and all books publisher, whether it's a McGraw Hill and all they have come out with the digitization of their books, completely talking books out there, you just put a year plug, walk and listen to your topic. So, digitization is on the front, and it will go further ahead.
Angelika
This is absolutely important like, this is a must for everyone who is watching us to hear to know, because if you haven't done that yet, it's time to do it a long time ago. But this is I believe this is the last opportunity to do this because the world is moving in such a quick pace in such a fast pace, that we do not have time for this, for being behind the technology and do not harness the power of technologies. So, this is absolutely amazing because Skyline University gives an example for universities across the globe, how to harness the power of technologies, how to use this, all the facilities, all the support that can be done to help students shape better, learning better environment and at the end, become more employable and bridge the gap between industry and academia. My last question would be about ranking systems, so, Mr. Kamal, UniRanks is the platform that is built in a way to make it possible for everyone to contribute, and to be an integral part of this project through the open rank concept and ranking committees to ensure the strong methodology and fairness, the ranking committee comes up with a structure to allow our higher education stakeholders to join platform from all over the world. What is your personal opinion about open rank concept and the ranking committee?
Opinions about the open rank concept
Thanks, very nice question that we put it in this way. All top companies of the world can survive if they are totally transparent. What technology brings? Technology brings transparency. What COVID has taught us, there are many positives which is come out of COVID, that we people talk to each other through technology. Now, transparency is very, important. Now, the hurdle for that would be,
- Local accredited agencies.
- Regional accredited agency.
- National accrediting agencies, those who are operating from number of years like Skyline is accredited by the CAA of UAE, which is the top authority and they also have articulations or collaboration with ASCSB, we are already in pipeline, we are already in a pipeline for ABET, QS we are already accredited.
So, what happens, the PPP, purchasing parity point of view the things have changed. This is a very nice initiative, but this initiative will have lot of hurdles. We have to take on board or decision-making agencies, the local accredited agencies, as well as those who are in the field of education as leader, all of them on the same table, and then put down different categories or evaluations because what happened, I remember in QAA from UK in 90s, they used to publish a list. But it was not clarified in a sense of whether this university is good in services or ranked academic standards. Now, academic standards will also vary from different agencies. So, I'm very happy there should be a common platform, we should apply to the word student can transfer from one place to another place, because these accreditedegency give the perceived value to the student whether I should join this organization or I should not.
Angelika
Exactly, and even though it will face lots of orders, still, we believe in transparency, and I believe that helping students actually gather data that is gathered by so many other students and help them understand what's going on, I think institution will be very beneficial. But thank you so much, Mr. Kamal for actually reaching the world's ridging the Western world and the eastern world with the excellence in providing the best services for students at the end of the day and today, I believe that our conversation has generated not even massive interest, but lots of insights for academics, for faculty members for staff to implement those solutions at their own institutions. Thank you so much for your time. It was a great pleasure and honor to interview you today and I wish you all the best.
Mr. Puri
Angelika last word I want to say Skyline has run 12 years British education, has ran four years American education then UAE accredited institution from 2005 onwards. This organization has a very rich experience of a British education system, American education system and UAE education system and being an Asian I have started in that education system we are fully aware about it. So, our organization has a very rich experience and thanks to you for interviewing me and I hope our talk will benefit to all listeners. Thank you.
Angelika
Thank you so much. Thank you very much. I believe it's been a really objectively talk and I really enjoyed it today. Thank you so much Mr. Kamal.
Mr. Puri
Thank you Take care.
Angelika
Thank you very much.
